Nearly 31,000 bottles of wine and other alcoholic beverages confiscated at Doha Port have been destroyed, Qatar’s General Authority of Customs (GAC) has announced.

The spirits had been seized “over a period of time” and were destroyed after court approval.

In a statement, officials said the bottles were first emptied and then crushed by heavy machinery.

This process is usually carried out every six months when it comes to any seized goods deemed hazardous to the environment, security or society.

Illicit goods

The GAC said items that pose a security risk such as weapons and ammunition are referred to the Ministry of Interior. And medicines go to the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, tobacco products are referred to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. And unauthorized religious texts and “sorcery materials” go to the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs.

Finally, alcoholic beverages and pornographic materials are destroyed by the GAC itself.

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